John Smith wrote:
"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
...
John Smith wrote:
"Philip" wrote in message
om...
"John Smith" wrote in message
...
After purchasing a few shrubs last week at high cost
considering
taking a few cuttings.
Grateful for advice:-
1. Is the time of the year ok to take shrub cuttings.
2. We have a greenhouse. Should I locate the cuttings over
winter
in the greenhouse or in sheltered place behind greenhouse?
3. Any other tips?
Thanks,
John
--------

Perhaps if you were to name the shrubs, we could provide
specific
advice.
----------------------------
Yes, say:-

Holly
Berberis
Hebe
Bamboo
Acer
Hydrangea
Viburnham
Cherry
Hawthorne
Rose
Spiria
Clematis
Penstemon
Cotinus
Philadelphus

In that case your garden's certainly big enough to make it
worthwhile
to get _The Reader's Digest Encyclopedia of Gardening_. It's a
cracker, to the extent that you may never actually need another
book;
but once you've started, you may be unable to stop!

Mike.
-----------------------
Now wish I'd not asked....
...was directed to this group as a knowledgeable, friendly and
helpful
lot...
No, not a large garden.
Helping children ...thought I'd find out a few fundamentals myself
first. Children spent time visiting neighbours and friends gardens
identifying shrubs they'd like to grow...
...I'm of to the library.

I'm very sorry you took it that way: I was trying to be helpful, not
smart-arse or insulting. The book really _is_ excellent, and though
the pictures are small they'd be just the job to show children. It's
much more convenient, quicker, and more reliable to have a good
reference book around the place.

The basics in this case are to take hardwood cuttings about 9" long
as the leaves fall, and stick them in a well-drained gritty (but not
totally arid) soil facing north if possible. Leave them there till
they show good new top growth, and then plant them on.

The trouble is, these basics are only basic: different plants prefer
different treatment, which is why a book's useful for such a long
list. Bamboos, for example, are totally different: you don't take
cuttings, but divide the "roots" (technically they aren't actually
roots) in, let's say early April.

I really _do_ hope this helps.

Mike.